Shower head with volume control



NOV. 10, 1953 J FRASER 2,658,799

SHOWER HEAD WITH VOLUME CONTROL Filed Sept. 6. 1950 INVENTOR BY JQMES FRA E ATTO R N EY Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOWER HEAD WITH VOLUME CONTROL James Fraser, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Speakman Company, Wilmington, Del., a. corporation of Delaware Application September 6, 1950, Serial No.183,364

10 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to shower heads of the widely used type disclosed in my prior Patents 1,830,694. of November 3, 1931, and 1,849,517, of March 15, 1932, in which a chambered. shower head structure comprises wall portions which may be given relative movements for cleaning purposes and to regulate the discharge of jets or sprays from the shower head. In said shower heads one or more discharge orifices are each normally throttled by an individual obstructoror obturator, which may be axially adjusted .relative to the wall of the associated orifice to regulate the discharge through the latter.

In the preferred forms of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I make use of a shower head structure like that disclosed in said Patent 1,849,517, in that it comprises a hollow shower head body having a, single relatively large circular discharge aperture,

which in normal operation is substantially filled "by an obstructor in the form of an axially adjustable disc. Orifice grooves elongated in the general direction of the shower head axis are formed in the cylindrical aperture wall or, preferably, in the periphera1 wall of the obstructor,

so that an individual jet of water supplied under pressure to the chambered shower head is discharged through each groove.

An important and distinguishing characteristic of a shower head of the general type described, is its self-cleaning action effected by moving the obstructor axially, wholly or partially out of the shower head aperture so as to provide clearance space between the obstructor or obstructors and the corresponding aperture wall or walls for the outflow of sand and other material tending to clog the shower head and then being flushed out of the shower head by. the passage therethrough of a moderate amount of water.

In customary forms of shower heads of the above mentioned type the coaxial adjustment of each shower head obstructor is relied on to control the form of the spray jets discharged, and

. to wholly or partially contro1 the rate at which the shower head discharges water, as well as to efiect a shower head cleaning action.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved shower head structure including an obstructor readily adjustable for cleaning purposes, and for smaller adjustments to vary the form of the jets discharged when such variation is desired, and which also includes a simple and effective volume regulating device. The latter is mounted in and concealed within the shower head body, and can be readily adillustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 is a section intersecting the axis of an assembled shower head;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the obstructor and a regulating element mounted in said obstructor;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken on the line i4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken similarly to Fig. 1, and illustrating a modification.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in Figs. 1-4, l designates a bell shaped shower head body of conventional external form, and which ordinarily is a metallic casting, though it may be formed of suitable plastic material. The body I is shown as having an externally threaded upper neck portion 2 for attachment to water supply piping. The hollow neck portion 2 surrounds the inlet opening to the water chamber space within the shower head body. The cylindrical lower end of that chamber constitutes the shower head discharge opening.

The opposite sides of the conical upper portion or shank, of the shower head body or shell are connected by a beam like part 3 integrally connected at its ends to the shower head shell. The central portion of the part 3 is thickened to form a nut like body with a vertical threaded passage 4 coaxial with the shower head body.

- The passage 4 is surrounded at its upper end by a flat annular surface 5, which forms the bottom wall of a seat for a cup shaped volume controller or regulator valve element 6, the operative purpose and effect of which is hereinafter described. The peripheral surface of the valve element 6 is cylindrical and fits snugly against the concave vertical edge surfaces or shoulder portions 1 of the part 3. The cup shaped valve element 6 has its bottom wall 8 formed with a central aperture, and the peripheral wall of the central aperture is internally grooved to receive in- I opening, as shown in Fig. 1.

iormedwith a central aperture through which 22 which is surrounded by the sleeve 24,

tegral vertical ribs or corrugations 9 at the periphery of the upper end portion of an adjustment bolt spindle ID. The ribs 9 and the grooves in the bottom wall of the valve 6 which receive said ribs, form a splined connection between the spindle I and valve element 6.

Thespindle ID has a threaded body portion extending through the aperture 4 and in threaded engagement with the wall of said aperture. A washer [2, larger in diameter than the ribbed portion of the spindle I0, is normally clamped against the upper end of the spindle by a screw or bolt l3 having its lower end portion screwed into a threaded socket H formed in the upper end portion of the spindle 10. The washer 12, while thus attached to the spindle l0, prevents down movement of the spindle in excess of the amount required to bring the edge portion of the washer 92 into engagement with the bottom wall 8 of the regulator 6. When the clamping screw 13 is removed, the spindle It] may be screwed out of engagement with the shower head body f and separated from the latter.

An obstructor disc 14 is normally within and extending across the shower head discharge The disc [4 is a lower portion of the spindle It) extends, and is normally secured against movement in the direction of its axis relative to the spindle l0,

by lower and upper abutment parts 5 and 16.

The lower abutment i5 is formed by the knob like lower end portion of the spindle l0, and is larger in diameter than the central opening in the disc !4. The. upper abutment I6 is in the form of a retaining clip snugly received in an annular groove 11 formed in the portion of the spindle it which is immediately above the disc [4 when the latter has its lower side in engagement with the knob 45. As shown, the clip I6 is a metal bar, rectangular in cross section and bent to form .a circular arc extending more than 180 about the spindle in and having its end portions IE extending out of the groove [1.

The disc M has its peripheral surface snugly received in the cylindrical lower end portion or discharge opening of the chamber surrounded by the shower head shell I. As shown, the disc I4 is like the obstructing device of Patent 1,849,517, in that it is formed with two sets of peripheral grooves l8 and 19, elongated in the general direction of the shower head axis and tapered in cross section so that the minimum cross sectional area of the flowpassage formed by each groove is increased as the spindle H1 is rotated to lower the disc [4 relative to the lower end of the shower head. The grooves of one set are more sharply inclined to the axis of the disc, than are the grooves of the other set.

The regulator valveelement 6 is held against movement in the longitudinal direction of the shower head axis away from the seat surface 5 by I a washer 2H and annular bearing part 2]. The shower head neck 2 is internally rabbetted at its upper end to provide a seat for the washer and an annular non-metallic bearing member 2|.

The latter is normally engaged, as is shown in Fig. 1, by the'globular lower end portion of a part 22 formed with a Water supply passage 23. An upper portion of the globular surface of the part 22 is engaged by an internal flange like,

* upper end portion of a sleeve 24. The internal diameter of the body portion of the sleeve 24 is greater than the diameter of the globular part The latter is internally threaded for the attachment of its lower end to the externally threaded upper end portion of the shower head neck 2.

The bearing part 2|, globular headed conduit part 22, sleeve 25 and a sleeve 26 threaded on the upper neck portion of the part 22, form a conventional ball and socket joint connection between the shower head and a stationary supply piping portion 21. In accordance with customary practice, a valve mechanism, not shown, may be provided to permit or prevent the passage of water under pressure to the shower head through the piping 21. In many cases, the supply valve mechanismis of the mixing valve type, adjustable to regulate the relative amounts of hot and cold water passed to the shower head from associated separate hot and cold water supply sources. ,In normal operation, the water supplied through the piping 21 passes through the supply passage 23 in the part 22, into the open upper one or more ports 28 "formed in the cylindrical wall portion of the valve member 5. As shown,

the valve member 6 is formed with two diametrically opposed ports 28. The volume of water supplied to, and passing through the shower head depends upon the angular adjustment of the regulator or valve member 6, relative to the edges of the shoulders I which gradually close the ports as when the valve member 6 is turned a few degrees counter-clockwise from its position shown in Fig. 3.

As shown the width of the shoulders I is somewhat greater than the width of the ports 28. In practice, however, I' consider it unnecessary to so accurately form the regulator element 5 and the surfaces of the shoulders I as to prevent leakage into the shower head chamber from the interior of the valve 6 when the latter is turned into the position in which each of its ports is covered by the corresponding shoulder '1. In practice, the ports 28 may well be of such width, or angular extent, that a clockwise rotation of the regulator B of about 22 degrees or so will port is in register with and covered by the corresponding shoulder 1.

The regulator 6 is given its regulatory adjustments by the manual rotation of the knob l5 at the lower end of the spindle Hi. It is of small practical importance whether the disc [4 is, or is not, rotated by the spindle I0 when the latter is rotated, but in practice, the frictional engagement of the periphery of the disc it with the adjacent portion of the shower head may well be effective to prevent the frictional engagement of the disc with the spindle l0 and its abutments l5 and I6, from causing the disc to share the rotative movements of the spindle. Whether the disc l4 is, or is not, held frictionally, or otherwise, against rotation with the spindle I 0, each rotative movement of the spindle madeto produce an elevation in the disc I4 suitably ior shower head cleaning purposes, or to produce a suitably close approximation to any desired variation in the effective cross sectional area of the jets passing away from the outer ends of the grooves [8 or [9, may be terminated with each port 28, in overlapping relation with a shoulder I or adjacent thereto as shown in Fig. 3.

As those skilled in the art will recognize, the capacity of the shower head for ready regulation of the volumetric rate at which water is dis- 5 charged, without significant variation in the vertical position of the disc l4 relative to the shower head body, is practically desirable. In normal operation, the volume regulator is consealed. The means shown for regulating the disc M, if necessary by spreading apart the end portions I6 of the resilient clips I6. After the cleaning and/or inspection operation is completed, the shower head may be quickly and easily reassembled and put back into condition for use.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig.

5, axial adjustment of the disc l4 and the angular adjustments of the valve member 6 may be efiected independently of one another. In Fig. 5, the spindle I shown in Fig. 1 is replaced by a spindle [0a, which is formed with a central passage 29, circular in cross section, and including no portion above its threaded portion. The threaded portion of the spindle Ill-a, may be shorter than the threaded portion of the spindle is, so that the upper end of the spindle Illa is always below the valve seat 5. The spindle lila may be connected to the disc It as in Fig. l, but is not connected to the valve member 6.

The latter is connected to and rotated by separate spindle 30 having a cylindrical body portion extending through and journalled in the central passage 29. The upper end of the spindle 3% is connected to the valve member 6 so that the rotation of the spindle will eiiect a corresponding rotation of the valve member. As shown, the spindle 30 is formed with a short upper end grooved portion formed with ribs received in the grooves in the wall of the central aperture in the bottom wall of the valve memher. The grooved portionof the spindle 3%) may be short enough so that the bottom wall of the valve member may be clamped between the head of the clamping screw [3 and the portion of the spindle 30 below the valve bottom wall 3. The spindle 30 has a knob 3| at its lower end for use in manually rotating the valve member. The spindle 39 is of such length that the knob 3! does not interfere with the maximum vertical adjustment of the spindle Illa, and disc [4. A shower head including the construction shown in Fig. 5 can be assembled and taken apart in the same manner as the shower head shown in Figs. 1-4.

To facilitate the description, I have hereinbeiore referred to the shower head structure as though its axis were invariably vertical, with the obstructor M at its lower end. It is to be understood, however, that the precise disposition of the shower head axis relative to the vertical is not important.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain 75 6 I features of my invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I 5 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shower head comprising a hollow shower head body having a discharge opening at one "end and an inlet opening adjacent its other end,

10 a disc normally received in said discharge opening and adjustable axially of said opening to vary the effective area of the discharge space between the peripheral edge of the disc and the portion of said body surrounding the discharge opening, a supporting part within and connected 'to the shower head body and formed with a passage having an internally threaded peripheral wall, said discharge opening and passage having a common axis, volume control means comprising a stationary valve member and a valve member mounted in said body for angular adjustment about said axis relative to said stationary valve member, said valve members having portions cooperating to form an orifice varying in area as the relative angular positions of said valve members are varied and. through which water flows from said inlet to and through said discharge opening in accordance with changes in the relative angular positions of said valve members, and adjusting means extending through said passage and including a rotatable portion operatively connected to said valve member to angularly adjust the latter when said portion is rotated and having a second portion in threaded engagement with said peripheral wall and operatively connected to said disc to adjust said disc axially of said discharge opening when rotated.

2. A shower head as specified in claim 1, in

which said adjusting means comprises a spindle having a threaded portion in threaded engagement with the peripheral wall of said passage and connected at its lower end to said disc to move the latter axially of said discharge opening when said spindle is rotated, and having an upper end portion in splined engagement with said valve to rotate the latter when said spindle .is rotated.

3. A shower head as specified in claim 1, in which said disc is formed with a central aperture and in which said adjusting means comprises a hollow spindle having a threaded upper end portion in threaded engagement with said peripheral wall and a lower end portion extending through the central aperture of said disc and terminating in a knob below said disc, means connecting said spindle and disc to effect axial 4 adjustments of the latter when said spindle is rotated, and a second spindle extending through and rotatable in said hollow spindle and having a knob at its lower end beneath the first mentioned knob, and connected at its upper end to said valve member and rotatable in said hollow spindle to rotate said valve member.

4. A shower head specified in claim '1, in

which said valve member includes a closed bottom wall portion and a hollow uprising cylindrical wall portion coaxial with said passage and having its upper end open and arranged to receive water through said inlet opening and formed with a port in its cylindrical wall portion and in which said body comprises a throttling portion in register with and substantially closing said port in one angular position of said valve member, and in which the extent to which said part is closed by said throttling portion aezsagzao Z diminishes; asisaid valvemember is. turned. away fromsaid. one angular. position.

5. A shower head as specified in claim 1,. in which. said disc-andvalve member are each formed with. a central. aperture and in which the rotatable portion of said adjusting means extends through the. central aperturein said valve member, and in. which said. second. adjusting, means portion extends through the disc aperture and has a knob. portion at its lower end larger: in diameter than the disc aperture and engaging, the. underside of said disc, and in which said shower head comprisesa disc retainer member. detachably connected to. said second adjusting portion in position to engage. the upper side of. said disc and comprises an abutment part detachably connected to the upper end of said rotatable. portion and engaging. the upperside of the portionoi the valve. member surrounding its central aperture and preventing the disassembly of the shower head while connected. to said rotatable portion.

6'. A shower head comprising a hollow shower head body having a discharge opening atone end and an inlet opening adjacent its other end, a disc normally received in. said discharge opening and adjustable axially of said opening to vary the eiiective area of the discharge space between the peripheral edge of the disc and the portion of said body surrounding the discharge opening, a supporting part connected to the shower head body and formed with a passage coaxial with said discharge opening and having an internally threaded peripheral wall, an adjusting spindle comprising a threaded portion extending through said passage and in threaded engagement with said peripheral wall and having a portion connected to said disc and moving the latter axially of said discharge opening when said adjusting element is rotated in said passage, and volume control means comprising a valve member mounted. in said body for angular adjustment to variably throttle the flow of water from said inlet opening to and through said discharge opening, means normally operative to prevent axial adjustment of said valve member relative to said valve body as said angular adjustment is effected and a coupling connection between said adjusting element and said valve member through which the rotation of said element adlusts said valve.

7. A shower head as specified in claim 6, in which said coupling connection comprises a splined connection between said valve member and said spindle permitting longitudinal movement of said spindle relative to said valve memher.

8. A shower head as specified in claim 6, in

which said. valve member comprises. a: bottom wall formed! with a. central aperture. and, seated on said. supporting; part with said aperture.- in register with said, passage, and in which, a portion. of said spindle extends. through saidaperture, and is in: splined engagement with said valve member, and thus forms a part of said coupling. connection.

9.. A. shower head as. specified in claim 6,. in which. the. end. portion of said spindle extending through said aperture is formed with a, threaded axial socket. and a. screw is threaded into, said socket and an abutment part is clamped against the, end of, said spindle by said screw and prevents. the. movements of said spindle out of said passage whilesaid abutment part is clamped against the end. of the spindle,

10. A shower head structure. comprising. a shower head body surrounding, a water chamber and. formed with a discharge opening at, one end and an inlet opening adjacent. its. other end and including a supporting. part formed with an internally threaded passage coaxial with said discharge opening. and with a valve. seat facing away from said discharge opening and comprising a bottom wall with an aperture therein in register with said passage and sidewall portions displaced from one another about. said passage, 2.. disc normally received in said dischargev opening and having its. periphery separated by a. re.- stricted discharge space from. the portion of said body surrounding said discharge opening, an adjusting element comprising a threaded spindle portion threaded through said passage and connected to said disc to move the latter axially of said discharge opening when said spindle is. rctated, a valve member mounted in said seat to rotate about the axis of said passage and, arranged to variably throttle the. flow of water from said inlet opening to and through said discharge opening when said valve member is rotated in its seat, means normally operative to prevent said valve member from moving in the direction of said axis while rotating about the latter, a and coupling means connected to said 0 spindle and valve member for rotation of the latter when said spindle is rotated.

JAMES FRASER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,830,694: Fraser Nov. 3, 1931 1,849,517 Fraser Mar. 15, 1932 1,958,867 Simmons May 15, 1934 2,049,141 Schneider July 28, 1936 2,096,912 Morris Oct. 26, 1937 2,529,223 Moen Nov. 7, 1950 

